Mizuki Noguchi won the 32nd real,- BERLIN-MARATHON with a new course-
and Asian record. The 27-year-old Japanese clocked 2:19:12 hours and broke
the course record of her countrywomen Yoko Shibui (2:19:41) by 29 seconds.
Fastest male runner was the Kenyan Philip Manyim in 2:07:41 hours. The
27-year-old won altogether 47,500 €, while Mizuki Noguchi earned
70.000 Euro.
A record number of 39.882 runners from 103 nations were running at the
32nd edition of the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON. The race established itself
as fourth biggest marathon in the world. Berlin is number one if you add
wheelchairs, handbikers and inline-skaters (48,170 athletes). On Sunday
there was also the real,- MINI-MARATHON with 9,312 participants. More
than one million people lined the course.
Mizuki Noguchi became the third best marathon runner of all times (behind
Radcliffe and Ndereba) and was running the sixth fastest time ever. Furthermore
it is the second best time of the year. With temporary good conditions,
but at to warm weather at the end, Luminita Zaituc (Germany) finished
second in 2:27:34 hours. Zaituc had to stop a few k before the finish,
due to cramps. Third place went to Asale Tafa (Ethiopia) in 2:28:27, while
Melanie Kraus (Germany) was fourth in 2:34:23.
While Japan’s women had the sixth victory in a row in Berlin, while
Kenya’s men got the seventh victory in a row in the most spectacular
road race in Germany. In doing so, the Kenyans reached the first five
places. Runner up was Peter Chebet in 2:08:58, and third place was taken
by Jackson Koech (2:09:07).
In the wheelchair race Heinz Frei produced a great victory. The Suisse
won in 1:28:32 and was celebrating a unique jubilee in the wheelchair
sport: It was his 100th marathon victory in his career. Since 1985 he
won in Berlin already 16 times out of 19 participations. Fastest women
was Edith Hunkeler (Schuisse) in 1:49:46. In the handbiker race Wim Decleir
winners were (Belgium/1:13:32) and Andrea Eskau (Germany/1:15:50).